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Education

Many of the issues facing our country are extraordinarily complex and nuanced. In order to understand these policy issues and the various perspectives around them, elected leaders, government staff, the public, industry, and nonprofits must first have an objective basic knowledge that is rooted in fact. Center Forward’s Basics series presents complicated issues in a non-partisan and easy-to-understand manner.

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Recycling Infrastructure & Sustainability

Climate & Sustainability

Today, the U.S. recycling industry is pivoting more towards technology, innovations, and other methods to aid in the efficiency of the recycling process. Significant developments are occurring in waste management, recycling, and sustainability along with an increased demand for sustainability from both customers and employees.

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Basel III Endgame: Navigating Capital Requirements and their Economic Impacts

Financial Services

In July 2023, the Federal Reserve, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) jointly released a notice of proposed rulemaking to implement final Basel III reforms framework domestically. Industry leaders and economic experts have expressed concern that the proposal from U.S. regulators included little concrete economic analysis and impact studies, and the U.S. proposal deviates significantly from the standards agreed upon by the BCBS.

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Incentivizing Hydrogen – Tax Credits for Clean Energy

Climate & Sustainability Energy & Utilities

Hydrogen’s flexibility as a fuel source across the transportation, industrial, and power generation sectors, coupled with its efficient storage capabilities, positions it as a critical component in achieving net-zero global emission goals. The production of clean hydrogen is supported by the Section 45V tax credit, which was established under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022. The 45V credit aims to accelerate the deployment of clean hydrogen production.

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Technology Transfer Explained: The Bayh-Dole Act and March-In Rights

Intellectual Property Manufacturing Technology

The University and Small Business Procedures Act of 1980, commonly known as the “Bayh-Dole Act,” empowers recipients of federal funding, primarily public universities and start-up businesses, to retain ownership of their inventions generated from that funding. If, however, the commercialization of the invention fails to meet certain standards, the government agency that issued the grant can invoke “march-in” rights, and mandate the patent holder issue additional licenses to allow others to practice the patented invention. Recently, consumer advocates have petitioned the government to use march-in rights as a means to lower drug prices, and the White House, Department of Commerce, and Department of Health and Human Services released a draft revision of the criteria to exercise march-in rights.

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Rare Diseases / Orphan Drug Act

Health Care

With the Orphan Drug Act (ODA) entering its forty-first year in 2024, advocates and lawmakers are taking stock of the United States’ progress in treating patients with rare diseases. Today, patients with rare diseases have shorter diagnostic journeys and more viable treatments than ever before. Despite this progress, hurdles continue as the gap between conditions and treatments remains large, and the power of the ODA has decreased over time. Lawmakers and experts are searching for solutions that will align incentives, improve the supply chain, and foster an ecosystem that will provide more options for patients. In this Basic, we will give an overview of the ODA, its impact, how it has changed over time, and what changes could be made in the future.

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A More Sustainable Future – Sustainable Aviation Fuel

Climate & Sustainability Infrastructure

In the post-pandemic era, airlines have experienced a significant resurgence in passenger traffic as travel restrictions eased and many resumed air travel. Accompanying this beneficial surge in air travel comes a rise in emissions, and the environmental concerns that follow them. Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) has emerged as an environmentally conscious choice for airlines, specifically those who are looking to lower their carbon footprint.

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R&D Amortization

Financial Services Health Care

U.S. companies spend over six hundred billion dollars each year on innovative research and development (R&D). This substantial investment impacts virtually every sector of the U.S. economy, driving advancements and breakthroughs that impact our daily lives and play a crucial role in societal progress and economic growth.

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A New Approach — The Child Tax Credit

Workforce

In the realm of financial policy, the Child Tax Credit stands as a cornerstone, playing a pivotal role in providing essential economic relief to American families with dependent children. In 1997, the Child Tax Credit was initiated during the Clinton administration as a partially refundable credit. It is a nonrefundable tax credit offered to taxpayers with dependent children aged under 17, capable of diminishing tax liability on a dollar-for-dollar basis, potentially erasing the tax debt entirely.

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